Shloka 21
भीमसेन–अलायुधयुद्धम् / Bhīmasena and Alāyudha: Night Engagement and Command Responses
त॑ मामनार्यपुरुषं मित्रद्रुहमधार्मिकम् । कि वक्ष्यति हि दुर्धर्ष: समेत्य परलोकजित्,ये परलोक-विजयी दुर्धर्ष वीर भीष्म यदि मैं उनके पास जाऊँ तो मुझ नीच, मित्रद्रोही तथा पापात्मा पुरुषसे क्या कहेंगे?
taṁ mām anārya-puruṣaṁ mitra-druham adhārmikam | kiṁ vakṣyati hi durdharṣaḥ sametya paraloka-jit ||
“Apa yang akan dikatakan pahlawan tak tertaklukkan itu—yang menang di alam baka—ketika bertemu denganku, manusia hina, pengkhianat sahabat, dan yang menyimpang dari dharma? Jika aku menghadapnya, bagaimana ia akan menyapaku?”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral self-recognition: betrayal of allies and deviation from dharma create inner shame and fear of judgment by the truly righteous and heroic. Ethical failure is portrayed not only as a social wrong but as a spiritual stain affecting one’s standing before the noble—especially those believed to have attained merit in the afterlife.
Duryodhana reflects anxiously on approaching a revered, unconquerable warrior described as 'victorious in the other world.' He anticipates reproach because he sees himself as ignoble, friend-betraying, and unrighteous, and wonders what such a hero will say upon meeting him.